The Hyundai A-League’s original big rivalry is set for its 32nd edition on Saturday night.

Both are unbeaten and are performing ominously. While Melbourne Victory enjoys a better record in the head-to-head clashes between the two clubs, they’ve only managed one win from their last 10 clashes in Sydney.

The Sky Blues are shooting for their fourth straight clean sheet this weekend, something they haven’t managed since January 2010.

Sydney FC lost their battle to have midfielder Terry Antonis available, with the FFA confirming on Thursday the young playmaker would miss out due to the injury which ruled him out of Socceroos duty.

Marquee man Marc Janko (Austria) and Corey Gameiro (Olyroos) are also away with their respective national sides.

Skipper Alex Brosque (ankle), who failed to complete training on Thursday, has been named as well as Hagi Gligor, Peter Triantis and George Timotheou.

Defender Matthieu Del Pierre has trained strongly this week and has been named in the squad, along with Andrew Nabbout, Jesse Makarounas, Jordan Brown, Kieran Dover and Milos Ridesic.

OPTA DATA STATS

Berisha is the current top scorer in the Hyundai A-League this season; netting five goals from just six shots on target.

Guilherme Finkler has a league-high three assists in the Hyundai A-League this season.

Melbourne Victory have averaged 16.4 fouls per game; the highest ratio in the Hyundai A-League this season.

ROUTE TO GOAL

With Gameiro and Janko both absent, Sydney may need to tinker with their approach. It means Sydney may need to take a more structured approach to how they attack Victory, using the quality of their midfield and over-lapping runs from full-backs Seb Ryall and Ali Abbas.

One area they could find joy is from set pieces, with the last four goals Victory have conceded coming from dead-ball situations.

Victory striker Besart Berisha loves playing against Sydney, scoring in four of his last five appearances against the Sky Blues.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Shane Smeltz. With Janko unavailable for the home side, Smeltz will make his first start for the club in the Hyundai A-League.

The Kiwi international is a pretty handy replacement, scoring 77 Hyundai A-League goals during his time with Wellington Phoenix, Gold Coast United and Perth Glory.

His battle with experienced Victory defender Adrian Leijer will be a brutal and could go a long way to deciding which side comes out on top.